Feb 17, 2009 8:45 pm US/Eastern
Chimp Owner Hammered With Threatening Calls
Distraught Relative Tells CBS 2 HD Sandra Herold Receiving Disturbing Phone Calls: "You Killed Travis"
Cops: Victim's Change Of Appearance May Have Set Animal Off
Owner Reportedly Tried To Give Rambunctious Travis A Xanax
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBS) ―
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A 200-pound chimpanzee named Travis attacked and critically injured a 55-year-old woman in Stamford, Conn., on Monday. This is an image of the monkey when it escaped in 2003.
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The question asked Tuesday in Connecticut was: what caused a chimpanzee to suddenly snap and go on the attack?
It was late afternoon on Monday when the drama unfolded in Stamford.
CBS 2 HD has learned more about the critically injured victim and the chimpanzee who friends say was like family.
Near the scene of the attack a man left bouquets of flowers and a relative of the chimpanzee's owner spoke briefly.
"She's getting phone calls from PETA, and people, you know [are making] threatening phone calls, saying she killed Travis, but it's not what she did," the relative said.
"She's not good, nobody's good," he added. "It's a tragic situation!"
Heather Carlson, communications assistant manager for PETA, refuted the claim that her organization made threatening phone calls to the chimpanzee's owner.
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The allegation that PETA has made harassing and/or threatening phone calls is simply not true," Carlson said.
On Monday evening Stamford police shot and killed "Travis" – a 15-year pet chimpanzee owned by Sandra Herold – after the animal viciously attacked 55-year-old Charla Nash, a manager at Herold's towing firm who knew the chimp well.
Travis was the company mascot, featured on one of the tow trucks. He even had a playroom upstairs.
The chimp attack victim had worked for Herold for a number of years. In this industrial area she's known as "Charly" and she's very well-liked.
"I feel sad for Sandy, especially sad for Charly. The whole thing is terrible," said Mike Grant of Shippan Auto Body.
The owner of a neighboring business also feels for Travis. Grant first met the chimp in 1994, and with his wife watched it grow into a 200-pound adult.
But on Monday night the owner grabbed a knife and stabbed the animal several times, trying to stop it from attacking the victim.
"It was probably the last thing she wanted to do but the first thing she had to do," Grant said. "The whole thing's terrible."
In 2003, Travis escaped from Herold's SUV and cavorted around downtown Stamford for two hours.
He had no history of violence. Police think he may have attacked Nash because she'd recently changed her appearance.
"From what I understand she had her dyed. Perhaps Travis didn't realize it was her. Travis was very protective of Sandy, very protective," said Donald Parker of Bill's Auto Towing.
Police will continue to investigate but don't anticipate filing any charges.
The owner said Travis was acting rambunctious Monday. She even tried to calm him by giving him a Xanax pill in a cup of tea. Travis also suffered from Lyme disease and police think that may have caused a psychosis that made the animal more aggressive.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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